Remember the interviews I did with the organizers and some of the participants from BoW 2011? For today I’ve saved the interviews from a couple of my best friends, who I meet and got to know thanks to the Battle of Wisby project.

Photo: Olle SahlinMaria, Johan and me marching to battle in front of the Gute army

Maria Sandberg, Stockholm, Sweden

What is your is interest in the 14th century? My family spent a lot of time on Gotland when I was a kid, so the battle of Wisby and the medieval buildings in Wisby has always been a big inspiration and fantasy for me. Later I studied art history and fell in love with the visual language from the medieval ages. So now I draw and do calligraphy for Battle of Wisby, as a tribute to where my interest started.

Are you in to any kind of organized medievalism?No, I just tag along with any nice people I find.

How do you feel about the upcoming event? Very excited. Battle of Wisby 2011 was my first time at any re-enactment, so this time I will know more what to expect.

What is your best memory from Battle of Wisby 2011? I was in the Gute army, and the part that felt most real was the prayer just before the battle started. It was like in the movies, but at the same time that must have been what they really did, 650 years ago… Also I was kind of anxious since I had never been in a a battle before, and that too must have been what many of them must have felt. Just a hundred times more!

How did you participate? I carried the banner of the Gute army.

Do you have any plans already about what you would like do during the Battle of Wisby 2013? I hope I will be able to do the same thing! Or maybe do some fighting if I can get the right gears for it. Also I would like to sign up for some of the workshops this year.

What do you think can be done differently this year, in order to make an even better event? I think a lot of people didn’t understand what a re-enactment is, so the audience did not know what to expect. And maybe it was hard for people who are not so in to medieval stuff to understand that Battle of Wisby is not a part of Medeltidsveckan (even if they work together of course). So maybe more information to the public would be good. Everything in the camp was great, so I hope that will be just the same.

Photo: Olle SahlinPrayer before battle

Photo: Iduna Pertolft

Johan Käll, from the proud province of Östergötland, Sweden

What is your is interest in the 14th century? A lot of things, it flows like the tide. At the moment I’m looking into medieval hunting.

Are you in to any kind of organized medievalism? Yes. Albrechts bössor, handgunners of Sweden in the later 14th century.

How do you feel about the upcoming event? It will be a good time to meet friends and feel the joy of camplife.

What is your best memory from Battle of Wisby 2011? Probably snippets and moments. Like night patrol in a living camp. Or maybe surfing on the pallisade after one of the horses when we tore it down.

How did you participate? I was living in the camp and was the commander of the Gotlandic forces. I did not have time for any workshops as battle preparations and muster took time.

Do you have any plans already about what you would like do during the Battle of Wisby 2013? I’m not really sure what Maria and Thomas need of me. But hopefully I can take some of their work load and keep them from hitting the medieval stonewall.

What do you think can be done differently this year, in order to make an even better event? Better information about what goes on in camp. Some kind of informationboard to post notices on. With a rudimentary map of where different groups in camp are located. This would make small gatherings and invitations to improvised jocularities easier.

Photo: Jon Johansson

Boudica, Kennel Greirish, Sweden

What is your is interest in the 14th century? Mostly to be outdoors and steal food. But I also like the medieval hunt, even if I’m not allowed to pursue my passion for it.

Are you in to any kind of organized medievalism? I am a living campornament of Albrechts Bössor.

How do you feel about the upcoming event? I don’t plan that far forward.. I am a little scatterbrained.

What is your best memory from Battle of Wisby 2011? When I raided the kitchenrefuse pit. And then when I raided it again, and they didn’t see it for a good while.

How did you participate? I was mostly laying about sleeping in camp. I also ate a spoon, a lantern and part of a shoe. But they where all a bit shady in dating for 14th century, so i did them a favour.

Do you have any plans already about what you would like do during the Battle of Wisby 2013? This year I plan to be in the night patrol and I will be sleeping in the camp. I also have some begging of food scheduled, since I have some new begging moves I want to try out.

What do you think can be done differently this year, in order to make an even better event? I think i should have a better waterbowl. That would be nice. And maybe a spiked collar so the wolfs don’t get me.